Fullerton, Hit and Run, Case Dismissed After Taking Course

Our client was driving along a rather busy street when the car in front of him stopped for seemingly no reason. In response, our client slammed on his brakes, but could see a collision was likely, so he steered off the road and ran into a Time Warner cable box, destroying it. The green box was about two feet high by four feet wide and long. It was the type of box that controlled Time Warner service to a few houses nearby.

Our client got out of his car and looked around. His car barely sustained a nick. He wanted to notify the property owner, but the box was in the middle of a large grass field and the nearest building was perhaps 200 feet away. Moreover, it was an apartment building, so there really was not a single person who might own the box. He did not know what to do, so he left the scene.

In a Nutshell: Fullerton, Hit and Run (Vehicle Code § 20002), Case Dismissed After Client Completes One Day Safe Driving Course

About three weeks later, he received a letter from the Fullerton Superior Court that a criminal case had been filed against him for hit and run. Apparently, a passing motorist had reported his license plate number to the police, who then tracked the plate to our client, obtained his address and sent him the notice of a case filing.

The client came to our office, unsure what to do. He thought there were no witnesses because no one stopped when he did. No one even talked to him.

Moreover, he was very concerned because he was becoming a professor at a local college and was in his probationary period. A misdemeanor conviction for something like Hit and Run would be fatal to his hopes of becoming a professor, or so he thought. The common perception of such a crime, indeed, was that someone ran over a pedestrian and left the scene to escape responsibility.

Greg Hill first tried to arrange for a civil compromise with Time Warner under Penal Code §§ 1377 and 1378, but Time Warner did not respond at all. Under Penal Code § 1054.1 and Brady v. Maryland, Greg also demanded the police report from the Fullerton District Attorney assigned to the case. Greg separately also requested the police report from the Fullerton Police Department. No one responded.

At the arraignment, the District Attorney acknowledged our demand for the police report and apologized profusely, explaining how busy he had been recently. He offered to compensate for his failure by permitting our client diversion, whereby our client would attend a safe driving class and the case would be dismissed. Upon receiving this great offer, Greg continued the arraignment so that the court record would not even show our client entered a “Not Guilty” plea.

Our client accepted the offer and took the class.

Greg then returned to court for the continued arraignment date and the District Attorney dismissed the case in the interests of justice under Penal Code § 1385.

Our client was quite happy, as his record remained clean, with no convictions. He would make it through his job’s probationary period unscathed.

For more information about hit and run and diversion, click on the following articles:

Thank you so much for putting so much effort in this case. We really appreciate it and we are happy that all turned out well. S.A., Torrance

★★★★★

Greg Hill did an outstanding job on every level. He was efficient, thorough, knowledgeable, courteous, responsive & brilliant. He welcomed my input and my concerns. . . from the first conversation to the last - I always felt 'it mattered' to him. S.C., Rolling Hills Estates

★★★★★

Thanks again for your hard work. We want you to know that we are very appreciative of all that you have done [on our son's] behalf. With warmest regards, L.H., Torrance

★★★★★

Dear Greg, Thank you again for all your help. Your professionalism and thoroughness is greatly admired. I will definitely recommend you to my friends if they ever need legal help. V.L., Carson

★★★★★

Thanks for investing in my case. I talked to other attorneys out there and they had an arms-length of attitude, but not you. Your intensity and interest helped a lot. C.R., Pomona